Hybrid electric vehicle battery cover with electrical disconnect

Abstract

A battery system includes a battery cover, a battery access panel removably connected to the battery cover, and a service disconnect switch. The service disconnect switch includes an electrical interlock switch. The service disconnect switch has a first position cooperating with the battery access panel to prevent removal of the access panel from the battery cover. In the first position, the service disconnect connects a traction battery to circuitry. The service disconnect also has a second position, the second position being displaced from the access panel and disconnecting the battery.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A battery system comprising:
 a battery cover; 
 an access panel removably connected to the battery cover; and 
 a service disconnect switch configured to be slid from a first position to a second position to disconnect a battery retained by the battery cover from terminals covered by the access panel, and rotated from the second position to a third position to release the access panel from the battery cover. 
 
     
     
       2. The battery system of  claim 1 , wherein the access panel has a flange extending from an exterior face, and the service disconnect switch has an interior face positioned to abut the flange and prevent removal of the access panel when the service disconnect switch is in the first position. 
     
     
       3. The battery system of  claim 1 , wherein the access panel has at least one fastening point configured to be connected to the battery cover. 
     
     
       4. A method for accessing terminals of a traction battery retained within a battery cover that has a removable access panel retained against the battery cover by a service disconnect, comprising:
 sliding a pivot arm of the service disconnect along an axis to disconnect the traction battery from the terminals; 
 pivoting the pivot arm to release a flange of the access panel from the battery cover; and 
 removing the access panel. 
 
     
     
       5. The method of  claim 4 , further comprising removing the service disconnect. 
     
     
       6. The method of  claim 5 , further comprising replacing the access panel against the battery cover, replacing the service disconnect, pivoting the pivot arm to engage the flange of the access panel, and sliding the pivot arm along the axis to connect the traction battery to the terminals. 
     
     
       7. The method of  claim 4 , wherein the access panel has at least one fastening point and a fastener connecting the fastening point to the battery cover, and wherein removing the access panel includes removing the fastener to disconnect the access panel from the battery cover. 
     
     
       8. A traction battery system for a vehicle comprising:
 a traction battery having terminals; 
 a battery cover retaining the traction battery; 
 an access panel removably connected to the battery cover and positioned to cover the terminals, wherein the access panel has a flange extending from an exterior surface; and 
 a service disconnect electrically engaged with a circuit to electrically connect the traction battery to the terminals and mechanically engaged with the access panel such that an interior face of the service disconnect retains the flange to hold the access panel against the battery cover when in a first position, wherein the service disconnect is configured to be slid along the battery cover from the first position to a second position to disconnect the traction battery from the terminals and rotated from the second position to a third position to disengage the interior face from the flange to release the access panel from the battery cover. 
 
     
     
       9. The traction battery system of  claim 8 , wherein the access panel has at least one fastening point configured to be connected to the battery cover such that the battery cover is retained to a battery tray when the access panel is installed and fastened to the battery cover.